My text here won’t be long since it’s much more beneficial to let the video below do the talking.
Last night, for the second time in the history of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart embodied Fox News’s Glenn Beck (Stewart’s first (shorter) parody may be found here). For a full 15 minutes, Stewart takes on Beck or Beck’s persona, nailing his
- bullish mannerisms,
- lowered glasses,
- forced crying spells,
- nondiegetic addresses to the camera/audience,
- chalkboard fetish,
- jumping and twirling fits,
- and of course, his complete irrationality about all things political.
While a couple of my Twitter followers seemed puzzled by Stewart’s lengthy rant (e.g,. “Is he going to do the whole show as Glenn Beck?”), most news sources, bloggers, etc. are wildly praising the piece this morning, calling it “one of Stewart’s more elaborate and successful bits,” “the Best. Daily Show. Ever?” and a “take-down [that] was beyond complete.” For further rave reviews, you might scan the comments on Media Matters‘s “Stewart Parodies Beck’s Paranoid Conspiracy Charts, Nazi Rhetoric.”
Without further ado, here’s yet another reason the first entry on my 25 Things about Me list is “I think that Jon Stewart might be the smartest person currently on television.”
Introduction
Full Segment
My text here won’t be long since it’s much more beneficial to let the video below do the talking.
Last night, for the second time in the history of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart embodied Fox News’s Glenn Beck (Stewart’s first much shorter parody may be found here). For a full 15 minutes, Stewart takes on Beck or Beck’s persona, nailing the pundit’s
· bullish mannerisms,
· lowered glasses,
· forced crying spells,
· nondiegetic addresses to the camera/audience,
· chalkboard fetish,
· and of course, his complete irrationality about all things political.
While a few of my Twitter connections were puzzled by Stewart’s lengthy rant, most news sources, bloggers, etc. are praising the piece this morning, calling it “one of Stewart’s more elaborate and successful bits,” “the Best. Daily Show. Ever?” and a “take-down [that] was beyond complete.” For further applause, you might scan the comments on Media Matters‘s brief take “Stewart Parodies Beck’s Paranoid Conspiracy Charts, Nazi Rhetoric.” Without further ado, here’s yet another reason that I still stand by #1 on my Facebook list, “25 Things about Me.”
The Best Lines, IMHO
- “I’m glad you tuned in to today’s show. It’s an important one. One that you and your family can’t afford to miss. Oh, you could miss it, but if you miss it…you’ll die.”
- “If you subscribe to an idea, you also subscribe to that idea’s ideology and to every possible negative consequence that that ideology even remotely implies when you carry it to absurd extremes.”
- “Why am I the only one that’s saying this? Am I crazy, or… Okay.”
- “I’m sorry, but I promised myself I would cry.” (Stewart bites down hard on his hand.)
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Professor of film and Shakespeare. Advocate of social media. Lover of popular culture,
Kelli,
I enjoyed the extended bit thoroughly, despite my initial hesitancy. I find the shorter bit funnier, but I feel that last night's episode was more meant to really call attention to Beck's absurd rhetorical style over being funny.
I did find that Stewart just didn't seem physically comfortable doing the segment, which distracted me a little bit. I've seen him perform live so this was odd. Perhaps the impromptu nature of his movements was what was causing the jitters. (Beck clearly rehearses his movements to a tee. He is nothing if not a very fine showman. Like the professional wrestler of political pundits.)
You've seen Stewart perform as DAILY SHOW host or stand-up comedian? (I've only had the pleasure of the latter.)
Like you, I've only had the pleasure of seeing him do stand-up (it was a very enjoyable night). I've never been to NYC, so no chance to camp out for seats and see the show tape.
He just seemed more comfortable there than he did on on the show last night. Perhaps it was the editing (which had a couple of odd cuts).